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| United States Patent |
5,241,659
|
|
Parulski
, et al.
|
August 31, 1993
|
Auxiliary removable memory for storing image parameter data
Abstract
The limited ability of an internal memory in a CD player to store
user-generated image parameter data is augmented by a storage medium, such
as an electrically programmable read only memory module, configured to be
removably interfaced with the CD player's microcontroller for storing
image parameter data that has been programmed by the user. The module can
be then removed from the playback device and inserted into that or another
playback device for controlling its operation. The customized image
parameter data may include one or more image display parameters including
contrast, image magnification, color balance, saturation, border type and
border location. It may also store information from which a photofinisher
may produce hard copy prints of selected images or an entirely new album
disc of user selections taken from multiple discs.
| Inventors:
|
Parulski; Kenneth A. (Rochester, NY);
O'Brien; Donald E. (Holcomb, NY);
Funston; David L. (Batavia, NY)
|
| Assignee:
|
Eastman Kodak Company (Rochester, NY)
|
| Appl. No.:
|
582727 |
| Filed:
|
September 14, 1990 |
| Current U.S. Class: |
345/589; 369/30.03; 386/8; 386/126 |
| Intern'l Class: |
G06F 015/20; G09G 001/28; H04N 009/79; G11B 005/02 |
| Field of Search: |
395/164-166
358/310,322,335,342,312
360/10.1,19.1
340/701,703,799
369/32
|
References Cited
U.S. Patent Documents
| 4305094 | Dec., 1981 | Yamada | 358/80.
|
| 4430675 | Feb., 1984 | Fujime | 358/342.
|
| 4652939 | Mar., 1987 | Baumeister | 358/342.
|
| 4675755 | Jun., 1987 | Baumeister et al. | 360/35.
|
| 4680647 | Jul., 1987 | Moriyama | 358/342.
|
| 4717971 | Jan., 1988 | Sawyer | 358/342.
|
| 4769721 | Sep., 1988 | Kajiura | 360/10.
|
| 4779252 | Oct., 1988 | Custers et al. | 369/32.
|
| 4788586 | Nov., 1988 | Zekenbrecht | 358/28.
|
| 4791496 | Dec., 1988 | Kageyama et al. | 358/342.
|
| 4800445 | Jan., 1989 | Kanada | 358/342.
|
| 4847697 | Jul., 1989 | Tobe | 358/342.
|
| 4855842 | Aug., 1989 | Hayes et al. | 358/342.
|
| 4872151 | Oct., 1989 | Smith | 369/14.
|
| 4922437 | May., 1990 | Sakata et al. | 364/574.
|
| 4972068 | Nov., 1990 | Ohtani et al. | 235/375.
|
| 5014127 | May., 1991 | Richards | 358/310.
|
| 5063547 | Nov., 1991 | Custers et al. | 369/32.
|
Other References
The Electronic Still Camera A New Concept in Photography, IEEE Trans on
Consumer Electronics; by: Kihara et al-Aug. 1982.
|
Primary Examiner: Shaw; Dale M.
Assistant Examiner: Tung; Kee M.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Dugas; Edward
Claims
What is claimed:
1. For use with a digital image processing system wherein a plurality of
images are digitized and written to a first digital database, contents of
said first digital database being readable by an image playback device
which contains a digital database access controller for controllably
accessing a digitized image stored by said first digital databases and, in
response to the contents of a digitized image accessed from said first
digital database, controllably outputting image display control signals
for controlling the operation of an image display device, so that the
image accessed from said first digital database is displayed thereby, a
method of controlling the manner in which an image playback device causes
said image display device to display an image comprising the steps of:
(a) storing, in said first digital database, in association with a
respective one of digitized images written thereto, first control
information through which said digital database access controller controls
the accessing of a digitized image from said first digital database and
outputs display device control signals, said first control information
including a presentation control file which contains at least one of first
data representative of the orientation of its associated image as stored
by said first digital database and second data representative of the
aspect ratio of its associated digitized image as stored by said first
digital database;
(b) providing a second digital database which is configured to be coupled
with said playback device and the contents of which are readable by and
alterable by said controller;
(c) storing, in said second digital database, second control information
for defining image display characteristics of one or more digitized images
stored by said first digital database; and
(d) causing said controller to access said first information stored by said
first digital data base and second control information that has been
stored by said second digital database and to control the display of an
image stored by said first digital database in accordance with contents of
said presentation control file and the contents of said second control
information.
2. A method according to claim 1, wherein said second control information
contains one or more image display parameters including contrast.
3. A method according to claim 1, wherein said second control information
contains one or more image display parameters including brightness.
4. A method according to claim 1, wherein said second control information
contains one or more image display parameters including image
magnification.
5. A method according to claim 1, wherein said second control information
contains one or more image display parameters including color hue.
6. A method according to claim 1, wherein said second control information
contains one or more image display parameters including color saturation.
7. A method according to claim 1, wherein said second control information
contains one or more image display parameters including border type and
border location.
8. A method according to claim 1, wherein said second control information
contains one or more image display parameters including orientation.
9. A method according to claim 1, wherein said second digital database
comprises a non-volatile memory.
10. A method according to claim 1, wherein said second control information
includes a parameter representative of a modification of said first
control information stored in said presentation control file in step (a).
11. For use with a digital image processing system wherein a plurality of
images are digitized and written to a first digital database, contents of
said first digital database being readable by an image playback device,
which contains a digital database access controller for controllably
accessing a digitized image stored by said first digital database and, in
response to the contents of a digitized image accessed from said first
digital database, controllably outputting image display control signals
for controlling the operation of an image display device, so that an image
accessed from said first digital database is displayed thereby, a method
of controlling the manner in which an image playback device causes said
image display device to display an image comprising the steps of:
(a) storing, in said first digital database, in association with a
respective one of digitized images written thereto, first control
information through which said digital database access controller controls
the accessing of a digitized image from said first digital database and
outputs display device control signals, said first control information
including a presentation control file which contains at least one of first
data representative of the orientation of its associated image as stored
by said first digital database and second data representative of the
aspect ratio of its associated digitized image as stored by said first
digital database;
(b) inputting to said controller said first information stored by said
first digital data base and second control information for defining image
display characteristics of one or more digitized images stored by said
first digital database, so as to cause said controller to control the
display of an image stored by said first digital database in accordance
with contents of said presentation control file and said second control
information;
(c) providing a second digital database which is configured to be removably
coupled with said playback device and the contents of which are readable
by and alterable by said controller; and
(d) storing, in said second digital database, said second control
information, so that said second digital database, upon being removed from
said playback device, will contain said second control information for
controlling the operation of an image playback device.
12. A method according to claim 11, wherein said second control information
contains one or more image display parameters including contrast.
13. A method according to claim 11, wherein said second control information
contains one or more image display parameters including brightness.
14. A method according to claim 11, wherein said second control information
contains one or more image display parameters including image
magnification.
15. A method according to claim 11, wherein said second control information
contains one or more image display parameters including color hue.
16. A method according to claim 11, wherein said second control information
contains one or more image display parameters including color saturation.
17. A method according to claim 11 wherein said second control information
contains one or more image display parameters including border type and
border location.
18. A method according to claim 11, wherein said second control information
contains one or more image display parameters including orientation.
19. A method according to claim 11, wherein said second digital database
comprises a non-volatile memory.
20. A method according to claim 11, wherein said second control information
includes a parameter representative of a modification of said first
control information stored in said presentation control file in step (a).
21. For use with a digital image processing system wherein a plurality of
images are digitized and written to a first digital database, contents of
said first digital database being readable by an image playback device,
which contains a digital database access controller for controllably
accessing a digitized image stored by said first digital database and, in
response to the contents of a digitized image accessed from said first
digital database, controllably outputting image display control signals
for controlling the operation of an image reproduction device, so that
image accessed from said first digital database is reproduced thereby, a
method of controlling the manner in which an image playback device causes
said image reproduction device to reproduce an image comprising the steps
of:
(a) storing, in said first digital database, in association with a
respective one of digitized images written thereto, first control
information through which said digital database access controller controls
the accessing of a digitized image from said first digital database and
outputs reproduction device control signals, said first control
information including a presentation control file which contains at least
one of first data representative of the orientation of its associated
image as stored by said first digital database and second data
representative of the aspect ratio of its associated digitized image as
stored by said first digital database;
(b) inputting to said digital database access controller said first
information stored by said first digital data base and second control
information for defining image reproduction characteristics of one or more
digitized images stored by said first digital database, so as to cause
said controller to control the reproduction of an image stored on said
first digital database in accordance with contents of said presentation
control file and said second control information;
(c) providing a second digital database, which is configured to be
removably engageable with said playback device and the contents of which
are readable by and alterable by said controller; and
(d) storing, in said second digital database, said second control
information, so that said second digital database, upon being removed from
said image playback device, will contain said second control information
for controlling the operation of an image playback device.
22. A method according to claim 21, wherein said second control information
contains one or more image display parameters including contrast.
23. A method according to claim 21, wherein said second control information
contains one or more image display parameters including brightness.
24. A method according to claim 21, wherein said second control information
contains one or more image display parameters including image
magnification.
25. A method according to claim 21, wherein said second control information
contains one or more image display parameters including color hue.
26. A method according to claim 21, wherein said second control information
contains one or more image display parameters including color saturation.
27. A method according to claim 21, wherein said second control information
contains one or more image display parameters including border type and
border location
28. A method according to claim 21, wherein said second control information
contains one or more image display parameters including orientation.
29. A method according to claim 21, wherein said second digital database
comprises a non-volatile memory.
30. A method according to claim 21, wherein said reproduction device
comprises an image display device.
31. A method according to claim 21, wherein said second control information
includes a parameter representative of a modification of said first
control information stored in said presentation control file in step (a).
32. A method according to claim 21, wherein said reproduction device
comprises an image printer.
33. A method according to claim 32, wherein said second control information
contains one or more image print parameters including contrast.
34. A method according to claim 32, wherein said second control information
contains one or more image print parameters including brightness.
35. A method according to claim 32, wherein said second control information
contains one or more image print parameters including image magnification.
36. A method according to claim 32, wherein said second control information
contains one or more image print parameters including color hue.
37. A method according to claim 32, wherein said second control information
contains one or more image print parameters including color saturation.
38. A method according to claim 32, wherein said second control information
contains one or more image print parameters including border type and
border location.
39. A method according to claim 32, wherein said second control information
contains one or more image print parameters including orientation.
40. A method according to claim 32, wherein said second control information
contains one or more image print parameters including number of prints.
41. A method according to claim 32, wherein said second control information
contains one or more image print parameters including size of print.
42. For use with a digital image processing system wherein a plurality of
images are digitized and written to a plurality of first digital
databases, contents of each first digital database being readable by an
image playback device, which contains a digital database access controller
for controllably accessing a digitized image stored by a first digital
database and, in response to the contents of a digitized image accessed
from a first digital database, controllably outputting image display
control signals for controlling the operation of an image reproduction
device, so that image accessed from a first digital database is reproduced
thereby, a method of controlling the manner in which said image playback
device causes said image reproduction device to reproduce an image
comprising the steps of:
(a) storing, in said first digital database, in association with a
respective one of digitized images written thereto, first control
information through which said digital database access controller controls
the accessing of a digitized image from a first digital database and
outputs reproduction device control signals, said first control
information including a presentation control file which contains at least
one of first data representative of the orientation of its associated
image as stored by said first digital database and second data
representative of the aspect ratio of its associated digitized image as
stored by said first digital database;
(b) inputting to said digital database access controller said first
information stored by said first digital data base and second control
information for defining image reproduction characteristics of one or more
digitized images stored by one or more first digital databases, so as to
cause said controller to control the reproduction of an image stored by a
first digital database in accordance with contents of said presentation
control file and said second control information;
(c) providing a second digital database, which is configured to be
removably engageable with said playback device and the contents of which
are readable by and alterable by said controller; and
(d) storing, in said second digital database, in association with said one
or more digitized images, second control information, so that said second
digital database, upon being removed from said image playback device, will
contain, second control information for controlling the reproduction of
said one or more digitized images by an image playback device.
43. A method according to claim 42, wherein said second control information
contains one or more image print parameters including contrast.
44. A method according to claim 42, wherein said second control information
contains one or more image print parameters including brightness.
45. A method according to claim 42, wherein said second control information
contains one or more image print parameters including image magnification.
46. A method according to claim 42, wherein said second control information
contains one or more image display parameters including color hue.
47. A method according to claim 42, wherein said second control information
contains one or more image display parameters including color saturation.
48. A method according to claim 42, wherein said second control information
contains one or more image display parameters including border type and
border location.
49. A method according to claim 42, wherein said second control information
contains one or more image display parameters including orientation.
50. A method according to claim 42, wherein said first digital databases
comprises an optical compact disc.
51. A method according to claim 42, wherein said reproduction device
comprises an image display device.
52. A method according to claim 42, wherein said reproduction device
comprises an image printer.
53. A method according to claim 42, wherein said second control information
includes a parameter representative of a modification of said first
control information stored in said presentation control file in step (a).
54. A digitized image playback apparatus for use with a digital image
processing system wherein a plurality of images are digitized and written
to a first digital database, said first digital database storing, in
association with a respective one of digitized images written thereto,
first control information through which a digital database access
controller controls the accessing of a digitized image from said first
digital database and outputs reproduction device control signals, said
first control information including a presentation control file which
contains at least one of first data representative of the orientation of
its associated image as stored by said first digital database and second
data representative of the aspect ratio of its associated digitized image
as stored by said first digital database, and being coupled to an image
playback apparatus, for the control of the operation of said image display
device comprising, in combination:
a digital database access controller which controllably accesses a
digitized image and said first control information stored by said first
digital database medium and, in response to the contents of a digitized
image and said presentation control file accessed from said first digital
database, controllably outputs image display control signals for
controlling the operation of said image display device, so that a
digitized image accessed from said first digital database is displayed
thereby;
a memory which stores said first control information through which said
digital database access controller controls the accessing of a digitized
image from said first digital database and outputs display device control
signals;
an input device for supplying to said digital database access controller
second control information for defining image display characteristics of
one or more digitized images stored by said first digital database, so as
to cause said controller to control the display of a digitized image
stored by said first digital database in accordance with said first and
second control information;
a second digital database, which is configured to be removably engageable
with said playback device and the contents of which are readable by and
alterable by said digital database access controller; and
interface means, coupled with said controller, for storing, in said second
digital database, said second control information, so that said second
digital database, upon being removed from said playback device, will
contain said second control information for controlling the operation of
an image playback device.
55. A digitized image playback apparatus according to claim 54, wherein
said second control information contains one or more image display
parameters including contrast.
56. A digitized image playback apparatus according to claim 54, wherein
said second control information contains one or more image display
parameters including brightness.
57. A digitized image playback apparatus according to claim 54, wherein
said second control information contains one or more image display
parameters including image magnification.
58. A digitized image playback apparatus according to claim 54, wherein
said second control information contains one or more image display
parameters including color hue.
59. A digitized image playback apparatus according to claim 54, wherein
said second control information contains one or more image display
parameters including color saturation.
60. A digitized image playback apparatus according to claim 54, wherein
said second control information contains one or more image display
parameters including border type and border location.
61. A digitized image playback apparatus according to claim 54, wherein
said second control information contains one or more image display
parameters including orientation.
62. A digitized image playback apparatus according to claim 54, wherein
said second control information contains one or more image display
parameters including a non-volatile memory.
63. A digitized image playback apparatus according to claim 54, wherein
said second control information includes a parameter representative of a
modification of said first control information.
64. A digitized image playback apparatus for use with a digital image
processing system wherein a plurality of color images are digitized and
corresponding digitized image files are stored on an optical compact disc,
a respective digitized image file including, in association with a
respective digitized image, first control information for controlling
accessing of a digitized image from said optical compact disc, said first
control information including a presentation control file which contains
at least one of first data representative of the orientation of its
associated image as stored by said optical compact disc and second data
representative of the aspect ratio of its associated digitized image as
stored by said optical compact disc, comprising, in combination:
an optical compact disc player which is configured to receive said optical
compact disc and controllably read image data including said first control
information that has been stored thereon, said optical compact disc player
including a disc access controller which controllably accesses to a
digitized image stored by said disc and, in response to said first control
information accessed from said disc, controllably accesses an image file
stored thereon and outputs image reproduction control signals for
controlling an operation of an image reproduction device, so that a
digitized still color image accessed from said optical compact disc is
reproduced thereby, said optical compact disc player further including
input means for supplying to said disc access controller second control
information for defining image reproduction characteristics of one or more
digitized images stored on said optical compact disc;
a transportable digital data storage medium, which is configured to be
removably engageable with said optical compact disc player, and contents
of which are readable by and alterable by said controller; and
interface means, coupled with said disc access controller, for storing, in
said transportable digital data storage medium, said second control
information, so that said transportable digital storage medium, upon being
removed from said playback device, will contain said second control
information for controlling the operation of an image reproduction device.
65. A digitized image playback apparatus according to claim 64, wherein
said second control information contains one or more image display
parameters including contrast.
66. A digitized image playback apparatus according to claim 64, wherein
said second control information contains one or more image display
parameters including brightness.
67. A digitized image playback apparatus according to claim 64, wherein
said second control information contains one or more image display
parameters including image magnification.
68. A digitized image playback apparatus according to claim 64, wherein
said second control information contains one or more image display
parameters including color hue.
69. A digitized image playback apparatus according to claim 64, wherein
said second control information contains one or more image display
parameters including color saturation.
70. A digitized image playback apparatus according to claim 64, wherein
said second control information contains one or more image display
parameters including border type and border location.
71. A digitized image playback apparatus according to claim 64, wherein
said second control information contains one or more image display
parameters including orientation.
72. A digitized image playback apparatus according to claim 64, wherein
said transportable digital data storage medium comprises an electrically
erasable programmable read only memory.
73. A digitized image playback apparatus according to claim 64, wherein
said reproduction device comprises an image display device.
74. A digitized image playback apparatus according to claim 64, wherein
said second control information includes a parameter representative of a
modification of said first control information.
75. A digitized image playback apparatus according to claim 64, wherein
said reproduction device comprises an image printer.
76. A digitized image playback apparatus according to claim 65, wherein
said second control information contains one or more image print
parameters including contrast.
77. A digitized image playback apparatus according to claim 75, wherein
said second control information contains one or more image print
parameters including brightness.
78. A digitized image playback apparatus according to claim 75, wherein
said second control information contains one or more image print
parameters including image magnification.
79. A digitized image playback apparatus according to claim 75, wherein
said second control information contains one or more image print
parameters including color hue.
80. A digitized image playback apparatus according to claim 75, wherein
said second control information contains one or more image print
parameters including color saturation.
81. A digitized image playback apparatus according to claim 75, wherein
said second control information contains one or more image print
parameters including border type and border location.
82. A digitized image playback apparatus according to claim 75, wherein
said second control information contains one or more image print
parameters including orientation.
83. A digitized image playback apparatus according to claim 75, wherein
said second control information contains one or more image print
parameters including number of prints.
84. A digitized image playback apparatus according to claim 75, wherein
said second control information contains one or more image print
parameters including size of print.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates in general to digitized image data processing
systems and is particularly directed to the use of an auxiliary removable
memory to store customized image parameter data for controlling the manner
in which digitized images are played back from a playback apparatus' frame
store and displayed on a user's television display.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Co-pending application Ser. No. 582,305, filed Sep. 14, 1990, entitled
"Multiresolution Digital Imagery Photofinishing System," by S. Kristy,
assigned to the assignee of the present application and the disclosure of
which is herein incorporated, describes a digital image processing system
wherein photographic still images, such as those captured by way of a 35
mm camera, are digitized and recorded on a optical compact disc (CD), for
subsequent playback on a CD player. The output of the CD player drives a
reproduction device, such as a consumer television set or color thermal
printer. One of the key aspects of that system is the manner in which the
digitized images are compressed to obtain a storage file format that
facilitates both the storage and retrieval of images for reproduction by a
variety of devices the resolution of which may vary from device to device.
In particular, when a photographic image capture medium, such as a 24 or 36
frame, 35 mm film strip, is scanned by a high resolution scanner to
digitize the respective images that have been captured on the film, each
digitized image is subjected to a compression operator that
`down-converts` a very high resolution image file, (e.g., 2048 lines by
3072 pixels/line file) into an iterative set of residue image files and a
base, or low, resolution file, (e.g. a 512 lines by 768 pixels per line
array representative of the image). One example of a preferred compression
operator is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,969,204, issued Nov. 6, 1990,
entitled "A Hybrid Residual-Based Hierarchical Storage and Display Method
for High Resolution Digital Images in a Multiuse Environment," by Paul W.
Melynchuck et al, assigned to the assignee of the present application and
the disclosure of which is herein incorporated. As described in that
Melynchuck et al application, each (512.times.768) base resolution file is
formatted as a set of four interlaced (256 lines by 384 pixels per line)
image sub-arrays, respectively defined by four sub-arrays of pixels within
the 512.times.768 base resolution array, corresponding to odd pixel/odd
line, odd pixel/even line, even pixel/odd line, even pixel/even line
sub-arrays.
The size of both the base resolution file and its interlaced sub-fields are
chosen to facilitate the implementation and incorporation of a low cost,
reduced complexity frame store/data retrieval architecture into a
conventional CD player, which provides for rapid call-up and display of
selected images on a consumer television color monitor. Several preferred
embodiments of such an architecture are described in co-pending patent
application Ser. No. 583,265, filed Sep. 14, 1990, entitled: "Mechanism
for Controlling Presentation of Displayed Image," by K. Parulski et al,
and Ser. No. 809,365 filed Dec. 18, 1991, entitled: Storage and Retrieval
of Digitized Photographic Images, by M. Axman et al, assigned to the
assignee of the present application and the disclosures of which are
herein incorporated.
As described in the above-referenced applications, each captured image is
digitized by the scanner and stored `as is`, regardless of its orientation
on the film. Annexed to each image file is a header file which contains
orientation, aspect ratio and other minilab operator-generated information
that is readable by the data retrieval microcontroller of a CD player, to
control the interfacing of the base resolution data file from the compact
disc to a reproduction device (e.g. TV display).
Now although an optical compact disc is a very high quality high density
storage medium, it is a write-once or permanent medium; it cannot be
erased or altered. Moreover, in order to provide a substantial degree of
reproductive flexibility to the user, the contents of the image file and
its associated header, as prepared by the photofinishing minilab operator,
are defined to optimize predefined image characteristics (scene balance)
and to indicate how the image has been captured and digitized, rather than
tailor the stored image file for playback on a particular reproduction
device. Further adjustment of parameters of the reproduced image is left
to the user. Thus, where the reproduction device is a consumer television
monitor, the customer/user may selectively customize the manner in which
an image file is displayed by the operation of a player/display control
unit (e.g. hand-held IR transmitter) which drives video display software
resident in the player. Indeed, from a practical standpoint, it can be
expected that in any given roll of film, there will be one or more
pictures that a user may find less than interesting or may wish to modify
(e.g. enlarge, crop) to a preferred presentation.
In audio playback systems, in order to accommodate the storage of
preference settings for selected song files, some CD players may be
equipped with an auxiliary internal memory through which a user may
specify a list of favorite songs to be sequenced on playback, rather than
having the player access all of the audio files in the order in which they
have been recorded While such an auxiliary `preferred sequence` feature
would also be useful in an image playback device, its functionality is
limited and the preference data itself is confined to that user's CD
player. As a result, if the user wishes to display or otherwise reproduce
a customized image or set of images on another player, the user will have
to go through the repeat exercise of setting up the display parameters on
that player.
Because a color image effectively consists of an extremely large set of
parallel information sources, whereas the contents of a sound track are
confined to one or two serially presented waveforms, the degree of freedom
associated with the modification of a digital color image provides the
user with practically an infinite number of possible alternative
appearances for the base image file, so that customization of even a
single image may involve both creativity and the expenditure of a
non-insubstantial period of time. Thus, it can be expected that the user
will want to save these parameters not only for future display of a
customized image on the very TV monitor that has been used to customize
one or more images stored on the disc, but for future playback on another
CD player, for example, that belonging to a relative or neighbor. As
mentioned previously, however, the data base on which the digitized image
has been stored is unalterable, so that image customization data cannot
simply be appended to the associated image file on the optical compact
disc.
In addition to the problem of customized data confinement, the CD player
resident memory has a finite storage capacity. As a consequence,
regardless of the fact that it permits the user to store customized
parameter data, eventually, the CD player's auxiliary internal memory will
run out of display parameter storage space.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention the limited ability of an internal
memory in an optical compact disc player to store user-generated image
parameter data is augmented by providing a storage medium, such as an
electrically programmable read only memory module, that is configured to
be removably interfaced with a CD player's microcontroller for storing
image parameter data that has been (remotely) programmed by the user. More
particularly, the present invention is directed to a digitized image
playback apparatus for use with a digital image processing system wherein
a plurality of photographic images that have been captured on a
photographic recording medium, such as a 35 mm film strip, are digitized
and written to an optical compact disc by way of a photoprocessing minilab
workstation. The compact disc is then supplied to the customer for
playback on a CD player and display on the customer's home television set.
The CD player's microcontroller reads the contents of a digitized image
file and outputs image display control signals for controlling how an
accessed image is displayed.
For this purpose, in addition to the digitized image itself, the disc
contains orientation and aspect ratio information that has been placed on
the disc by the minilab operator to define what type of image has been
recorded, so that a digitized image file may be properly accessed from the
disc and presented to the display device in an `upright` orientation, with
the correct aspect ratio.
The microcontroller is also adapted to be interfaced with a second,
transportable digital data storage medium, such as a `smart card` or
magnetic memory cartridge, which is removably insertable into the playback
device and the contents of which are readable by and alterable by the
microcontroller. This auxiliary, removable memory module permits the user
to save customized image parameter data that the user has input to the
microcontroller (as by way of a user interface, such as a hand-held remote
control unit). The cartridge can be then removed from the playback device
and inserted into that or another playback device for controlling its
operation. The customized image parameter data may include one or more
image display parameters including contrast, image magnification, color
balance, saturation, border type and border location.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 diagrammatically illustrates a photographic color film processing
system in which the present invention may be employed;
FIG. 2 diagrammatically illustrates the signal processing architecture of a
digitized still photographic image playback apparatus that incorporates an
auxiliary removable memory module for storing and retrieving
user-customized image parameter data;
FIG. 3 illustrates the organization of the data stored in an EEPROM module
for the storage of parameters which control image customization;
FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrates the organization of data in respective disc data
files;
FIG. 6 shows a removable EEPROM module programmed to produce one ore more
"album" image discs; and
FIG. 7 shows the push-button layout configuration of a user-operated IR
remote control unit for operating a CD player.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Before describing in detail the particular improved image parameter data
auxiliary storage and retrieval mechanism in accordance with the present
invention, it should be observed that the present invention resides
primarily in a novel structural combination of conventional signal
processing circuits and components and not in the particular detailed
configurations thereof. Accordingly, the structure, control and
arrangement of these conventional circuits and components have been
illustrated in the drawings by readily understandable block diagrams which
show only those specific details that are pertinent to the present
invention, so as not to obscure the disclosure with structural details
which will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art having the
benefit of the description herein. Thus, the block diagram illustrations
of the Figures do not necessarily represent the mechanical structural
arrangement of the exemplary system, but are primarily intended to
illustrate the major structural components of the system in a convenient
functional grouping, whereby the present invention may be more readily
understood.
FIG. 1 diagrammatically illustrates a photographic color film processing
system (photofinishing minilab) with which the present invention may be
employed and for purposes of the present description such a system may be
of the type described in the above-referenced Kristy application. It
should be observed, however, that the system described in that application
is merely an example of one type of system in which the invention may be
used and is not to be considered limitative of the invention.
In accordance with the digital image processing system of FIG. 1,
photographic images, such as a set of twenty-four or thirty-six 36
mm.times.24 mm image frames of a 35 mm film strip 10, are scanned by a
high resolution opto-electronic film scanner 12, such as a commercially
available Eikonix Model 1435 scanner. High resolution scanner 12 outputs
digitally encoded data (e.g. a 3072.times.2048 pixel matrix)
representative of the internal electronic scanning of a high resolution
image sensing array onto which a respective photographic image frame of
film strip 10 is projected. This digitally encoded data (digitized image)
is coupled in the form of an imaging pixel array-representative bit map to
an attendant image processing workstation 14, which contains a frame store
and image processing application software through which the digitized
image may be processed (e.g. enlarged, cropped, subjected to a scene
balance correction, etc.) to achieve a desired image appearance. Once an
image file has been prepared, it is stored on a transportable medium, such
as a write-once optical compact disc, using compact disc recorder 16. The
disc may then be inserted into a compact disc player 20 and, via the
operation of selector switches of a cabinet-resident control panel or (IR)
remote control unit 200, a selected image file is accessed for display on
the user's television set 22. The CD player may also drive a high
resolution thermal printer 24 for obtaining a hard copy of a selected
image.
In accordance with the image processing system described in the above
referenced Kristy application, each digitized high resolution image is
stored as a respective image data file containing a low, (or base)
resolution image bit map file, and a plurality of higher resolution
residual image files associated with respectively increasing degrees of
image resolution. By iteratively combining the higher resolution residual
image file data with the low resolution image bit map file data,
successively increased resolution images may be recovered from the base
resolution image.
As an example, spatial data values representative of a high resolution
(3072.times.2048) image scan of a 36 mm-by-24 mm image frame of a 35 mm
film strip 10 may be stored as a respective image data file including a
base resolution image bit map file containing data values associated with
a spatial image array of 512 rows and 768 columns of pixels and an
associated set of residual image files to be stored on the disc. Within
the workstation itself, the base resolution image may be further
sub-sampled to derive an even lower resolution sub-array of image values
(e.g. on the order of 128.times.192 pixels) for display on a segment of
the system operator's workstation for the purpose of identifying image
orientation and specifying aspect ratio. Preferably, as described in the
above-referenced Parulski et al application, a header file is associated
with each digitized image for the purpose of specifying how the image was
captured on film and has been correspondingly digitized and stored on
disc. The information in the header file is used by the playback device to
ensure that the image will have an upright orientation and the correct
aspect ratio for the reproduction device. In addition, a master header
file is recorded which includes a unique ID number for each disc recorded
by CD recorder 16 in FIG. 1, in order to uniquely identify each disc.
When a film strip is originally scanned in the photoprocessing minilab,
each picture is digitized as though it were horizontally oriented,
irrespective of its actual orientation on the film. The digitized image is
stored in the workstation's frame store, as is, and a lower resolution
version of the digitized image is displayed on the display monitor of
workstation 14, so that the image may be viewed by the operator. As each
image is digitized and stored on the disc, the photofinishing minilab
operator, using a workstation input device, enters a set of `presentation`
control codes that are incorporated within the header file associated with
a respective image file to indicate how the image has been stored, so
that, when subsequently accessed by a reproduction device, the image will
be played back in an upright orientation at the correct aspect ratio.
FIG. 2 diagrammatically illustrates the signal processing architecture of
the image retrieval mechanism described in the above-referenced Parulski
et al application, that has been modified in accordance with the present
invention to incorporate an auxiliary removable memory module for storing
user-customized image parameter data. As in the Parulski et al
application, the playback device itself is preferably a commercially
available compact optical disc player, which accesses digital image files
that have been stored on disc and supplies video signals to a user's color
television monitor. In accordance with the retrieval mechanism described
in the Parulski et al application, the contents of the digital image data
file read from an optical compact disc 40 are coupled to a deformatter 42,
wherein the file is deformatted into a digitized image and its associated
header field, under the control of a resident microcontroller 44. The
digitized image is stored in a frame store 50, while the contents of the
header field are coupled to a memory access control circuit 52, which
controls how the digitized image data is transferred from the disc into
frame store 50 and how the contents of the frame store are read out to
associated circuitry 54 for driving a color television display 56.
Depending upon the size of frame store 50, the architecture of the memory
access control circuitry may incorporate decimation/interpolation
operators to adjust the aspect ratio and size of the image eventually
supplied by the frame store to the television display. For a description
of the details of the memory access control architecture attention may be
directed to the previously referenced Parulski et al and Axman et al
applications. In accordance with the improvement provided by the present
invention, the user/viewer is able to supply and store customizing image
reproduction parameters, independently of preprogrammed display control
instructions, so that microcontroller 44 will control the presentation of
image data to the display device in accordance with such user-preference
inputs. For this purpose, microcontroller 44 is coupled with an interface
58 through which it may write to and read a removably engageable auxiliary
memory module 60, such an electrically erasable programmable read only
memory (EEPROM). The form module 60 takes may be any of a variety of
currently available EEPROM modules, such as a `smart card` or a magnetic
ROM cartridge used in commercial video games and laptop computers. For an
illustration of the use and manner of interfacing an EEPROM device, per
se, as an auxiliary memory module for augmenting the internal storage
capability of a playback device, attention may be directed to the Hayes et
al, U.S. Pat. No. 4,855,842, which describes the interfacing of such a
module for a programmed video teaching system and how such an auxiliary
memory module can be used to permit access by one or more specific users
(students) and keep track of a student's progress.
In accordance with the present invention, such an auxiliary, transportable,
memory module is used for storing user-sourced image customizing
parameters, such as contrast, image magnification, color balance,
saturation, border type and border location, etc., thereby enabling the
user to save, in a removable memory module, parameters that have been
input to the microcontroller, as by way of a conventional, hand-held
remote control (IR) unit 200. Removable memory module 60 may then be
extracted from interface 58 in the playback device and reinserted into
that device during a subsequent playback operation or inserted, along with
its associated disc, in another playback device for controlling another
reproduction unit.
In order to facilitate an understanding of the image customizing and
auxiliary storage mechanism of the present invention, the following
discussion will explain both the operation and the data structure used to
assemble respective images and associated parameter fields that are
defined in the course of customizing one or a plurality of images.
When an optical compact disc onto which digitized image files have been
recorded is inserted into playback device 20 in FIG. 1, the presentation
of images on NTSC display 22 can be controlled by the user via IR remote
control unit 200, which is shown in greater detail in FIG. 7. Individual
images can be viewed by entering the image number using buttons 204 and
then pressing the play button 206, or by pressing either the track forward
or track backwards arrows 208 to move on to the next or back to the
previous image on the disc. As the image data is read from disc 40, the
presentation control data described in the Parulski et al application is
used to control the memory access control circuit 52, so that the
correctly oriented image is read from framestore 50. However, should the
orientation code in the presentation control data be in error, due for
example to an operator erroneously programming the presentation control
data for the particular image in the course of recording the image onto
the disc via CD recorder 16 (FIG. 1), then the user may re-orient the
image via rotate buttons 220.
The user may also zoom in or out to display only a portion of the image in
enlarged form by pressing the zoom button 210 followed by either of the
up/down arrow keys 216, which instructs the memory control circuit 52 to
read out the proper portion of the image stored in framestore 50. Further,
the user may alter the appearance of any displayed image by pressing the
`lighten` button 222 followed by either the up/down arrows 216, which
cause the supply of control codes for increasing or decreasing the
contrast of the image, respectively, or the left/right arrows 218, which
increase or decrease the brightness of the image, respectively, by
properly instructing the color and tone modification circuit 53 to alter
the brightness or contrast of the digitized image as desired, via digital
lookup tables.
The user may also alter the color of the displayed image. For this purpose,
the user may depress color button 224, followed by either the up/down
arrows 216, which cause the generation of control codes to increase or
decrease the color saturation of the image, respectively. Similarly, the
user may depress the left/right arrows 218, which alter the color balance
of the image, respectively, by instructing the color and tone modification
circuit 53 to alter the saturation or color balance of the digitized image
by means of a digital 3.times.3 color correction matrix circuit (not
shown).
The user may also create a colored border in the image via color border
generator and text generator 55, by first pressing the border button 226
followed by the arrow keys 216 and 218 which allow the border to be
properly positioned. The color of the border can be changed by pressing
the color button 224 and the border button 226 simultaneously, and then
pressing keys 216 to alter the color saturation, or keys 218 to alter the
color hue.
Generation and positioning of the colored border may be accomplished by
means of the border generator circuitry disclosed in co-pending U.S.
patent application Ser. No. 405,816, filed Sep. 11, 1989, entitled "A
DIGITAL CIRCUIT FOR CREATING AREA DEPENDENT SPECIAL EFFECTS" by K. A.
Parulski, et al, which is assigned to the assignee of the present
invention and the disclosure of which is herein incorporated.
Finally, via a color and tone modification circuit of the type described in
the above-referenced Parulski et al '816 application for generating
`posterized` images, the user may also create special effects, by first
depressing the effects button 228 followed by the arrow keys 216 and 218,
which cycle through a number of available effects, including posterized,
false-color, or "negative" images, until the user selects a pleasing
effect for the current image. The ease with which the user may access the
above-described features may be facilitated by judicious use of on-screen
menu overlays supplied by text generator 55. Once an image has been
`customized` in the manner described above, it is very desirable for the
user to be able to display the image in the future in exactly the same
fashion, instead of having to repeat the customization procedure each time
the image is to be replayed. Thus, it is advantageous to be able to store
the data describing the parameters which indicate how the image has been
altered, so that it can be recalled and used subsequently, when the user
wishes to display the same image. Because the system of FIG. 1 uses a
write-once optical disc, and because CD player 20 cannot record
information onto the optical disc, it is not possible to store this data
onto the compact disc 40 of FIG. 2.
Thus, some other method of storing the data is required. While a control
data memory could be permanently housed within the CD player, it is
preferable that the storage device, such as EEPROM module 60 in FIG. 2, be
removable and insertable into one or more other playback units.
In accordance with the present invention, once the user has customized an
image in the manner described previously, the store button 230 is
depressed, which causes the parameters which define the manner in which
the image has been altered to be temporarily stored in a scratchpad RAM
45. The user may then proceed to display, and optionally alter, any or all
of the images on the disc, depressing the store button 230 once a
preferred image display is obtained. After all viewing, altering, and
storing of images on the disc has been completed, the eject button 240 is
pressed, which causes the disc to be ejected from the CD player, and also
causes data stored in scratchpad RAM 45 to be written into EEPROM memory
60. As a result, the next time the same disc is inserted into any player
containing the EEPROM module 60 used during the programming session just
described, the customized control data can be read out from EEPROM module
60 into the scratchpad RAM 45, in order to display the images in the order
programmed earlier and with the same zoom position, color balance, etc.
The user may delete any of the programmed images by pressing the clear
button 232, so that any new images may be customized by advancing to the
desired image, optionally altering the appearance of the displayed image,
and then pressing the store button 230. This new control data is again
temporarily stored in scratchpad RAM 45 and then written to removable
EEPROM module 60 when the disc is ejected, as described above.
FIG. 3 illustrates the organization of the data stored in EEPROM module 60
for the storage of parameters which control image customization as
described above. For purposes of providing an illustrative example, the
memory organization of FIG. 3 assumes that EEPROM module 60 is a 64K Byte
memory, which corresponds to a 16 bit address space. The 64K memory is
divided into four separate sections, a pointer table section 120, a video
display control data section 140, an optional reprint request data section
160, and an optional album disc data section 180. The lowest addresses are
used to store a pointer table 120 which stores a multiplicity of pointer
entries of three different types: disc identification (ID) pointer
entries, such as disc #1 pointer entry 102 and disc #n pointer entry 106,
print request pointer entries, such as print request pointer entry 110,
and album disc request pointer entries, such as album disc request pointer
114.
The disc ID pointer entries, such as disc #1 pointer entry 102, are 6 Bytes
in length and include 2 values, a 4 Byte disc ID number, such as disc #1
ID 103, followed by a 2 Byte address value, such as disc #1 address 104.
Address 104 is the address within EEPROM address space 100 at which the
data for the disc having an ID number matching the value stored in
location 103 is stored. In other words, the address 104 "points" (as
depicted by line 204) to the EEPROM memory location at which the control
data for images with disc #1 ID 103 are stored. Similarly, address 108 is
the address within EEPROM address space 100 at which the data for the disc
#N having an ID number matching the value stored in location 107 is
stored. The pointer table 120 contains disc ID pointer entries for all
discs which have been previously inserted into playback device 20 and
programmed in a manner to be described below.
When a disc is inserted into a CD player 20, the four Byte ID number
programmed into the header of each disc is read from the disc 40 (FIG. 2)
and the ID number is routed by deformatter 42 to microcontroller 44.
Microcontroller 44 then searches the pointer table 120 to determine if any
of the disc IDs, for example the IDs stored in location 103 or 107, match
the ID number of the disc 40. If there is a match, for example with the ID
value stored in location 107 of EEPROM address space 100, the
corresponding video display control data, in this example disc #N data
file 148, is read from EEPROM module 60 into scratchpad RAM 45 via memory
module interface 58 and microcontroller 44.
The data in each of the individual disc data files, for example disc #N
data file 148, is organized in the manner shown in FIG. 4. The data file
300 is composed of a number of display records, for example display
records 320, 360, and 380. Each display record, for example display record
320, is composed of two parts, a required part 322 including a status byte
330 and an image number byte 332, and an optional part 324 which depends
on the value of status byte 330. The image byte 332 indicates which image
data record on the disc should be used to create the image. This allows
the images on the disc to be played back in any order, and further allows
the same image to be displayed more than once, in two or more different
altered forms, so that, for example, different parts of the same image can
be viewed at differing magnifications.
The two LSBs (bit 0 and bit 1) of the status byte 330 are used to store the
orientation of the image. The next 5 bits (bits 2-6) of status byte 330
indicate which, if any, optional features have been used to alter the
image. In particular, bit 2=1 indicates that the zoom feature was used.
When bit 2=1, three one byte parameter values are stored following the
image number byte, the first byte 334 indicating the zoom value
(magnification), the second byte 336 indicating the relative position of
the left edge of the zoomed area in the x direction relative to the left
edge of the original image, and the third byte 338 indicating the relative
position of the top edge of the zoomed area in the y direction relative to
the top edge of the original image. If, on the other hand, bit 2=0, the
zoom feature was not used to alter the image, and the three one byte
parameter values are not stored, thus reducing the memory required.
In a similar manner, bit 3=1 indicates that the contrast byte 340 and the
brightness byte 342 are present, while bit 3=0 indicates that this feature
was not used to alter the image. Color changes are indicated with bit 4=1
along with saturation byte 344 and hue value byte 346. Bit 5=1 indicates
that the border feature was used, and that border color byte 348, border X
position 350, and border Y position 352 are present. Bit 6=1 indicates
that the effects feature was also used, and that the effects byte 354 will
be present.
Note that for display record 370, on the other hand, none of the optional
features was used to alter the appearance of the image, except perhaps the
orientation feature. Status bits 2-7 all are set to 0, indicating that the
image number stored in EEPROM address 372 should be displayed with the
default settings for zoom, light, color, and border, and without special
effects. For display record 380, only the `lighten` 222 button was used to
alter the appearance of the image, so that bit 3=1, and the contrast and
brightness parameters are stored. Record 390, where bit 7=1, indicates
that the end of disc data file 300 has been reached.
The removable EEPROM module 60 shown in FIG. 6 can also be programmed to
order one or more reprints from a photofinisher equipped with the thermal
printer 24 and CD player 20 (FIG. 1) which incorporates the memory module
interface 58 of FIG. 2. The disc or discs containing the digitized images,
together with EEPROM module 60, are delivered to the photofinisher, who
can automatically generate the desired images in their desired form, by
reading the reprint request data 160 (FIG. 3).
The organization of file 160 is shown in greater detail in FIG. 5. File 160
contains a number of print records, for example 410 and 420, each of which
is composed of four values, a four byte disc number 412, a one byte image
number 414, a one byte print size parameter 416, and a one byte copies
value 418. The user programs the reprint request data file 400 by locating
a desired image and pressing the reprint button 250 of remote control unit
200. The user next pushes up/down arrow button 216 to select the desired
print size, enters the number of copies desired using buttons 204, and
finally pushes the store button 230. After all the desired image prints
have been selected and stored, the disc is ejected and the reprint request
data is written from scratchpad RAM 45 to EEPROM module 60, followed by
the "reserved word" disc number=0, indicating the end of the reprint
request data. When the EEPROM module and discs are supplied to the
photofinisher, the reprint request data file may be used to automatically
determine the size and number of reprints, and the disc data file used to
automatically select any optional features such as zoom, color balance,
effects, etc., stored by the user.
The removable EEPROM module 60 in FIG. 6 can also be programmed to produce
one or more "album" image discs from a photofinisher equipped with the CD
recorder 16 and playback device 20 of FIG. 1, which incorporates a memory
module interface 58 of FIG. 2. The disc or discs containing the digitized
images, and the EEPROM module 60 are supplied to the photofinisher, who
may automatically record the desired images in the desired order onto the
new album disc, by reading the album disc data 180 in FIG. 3.
The organization of file 180 is also shown in greater detail in FIG. 6.
File 180 file contains a number of album order records, for example 510,
520, and 530, each of which is composed of two values, a four byte disc
number 512, and a one byte image number 514. The user programs the album
disc data file 400 by locating the desired images, one at a time and in
the desired order, and pressing the album button 260 followed by the store
button 230 on remote control unit 200. When the EEPROM module and discs
are given to the photofinisher, the album disc data file is used to
automatically decide the order of transferred images, and the appropriate
disc data files are also written into the master header file of the new
album disc, where they may be used to automatically present the images on
the album disc using the desired optional features such as zoom, color
balance, effects, etc., originally stored by the user in the disc data
files of the EEPROM module.
As will be appreciated from the foregoing description, the limited ability
of an internal memory in a CD player to store user-generated image
parameter data is augmented in accordance with the present invention by
incorporating a storage medium, such as an electrically programmable read
only memory module, configured to be removably interfaced with the CD
player's microcontroller for storing image parameter data that has been
(remotely) programmed by the user. The module can be then removed from the
playback device and inserted into that or another playback device for
controlling its operation. The customized image parameter data may include
one or more image display parameters including contrast, image
magnification, color balance, saturation, border type and border location.
It may also store information from which a photofinisher may produce hard
copy prints of selected images or an entirely new album disc of user
selections taken from multiple discs. When creating a new album disc, the
customized image parameter data may be recorded from the memory module
into the master header file on the new discs, so that the EEPROM module
containing the customized image parameter data does not need to be
replicated.
While we have shown and described an embodiment in accordance with the
present invention, it is to be understood that the same is not limited
thereto but is susceptible to numerous changes and modifications as known
to a person skilled in the art, and we therefore do not wish to be limited
to the details shown and described herein but intend to cover all such
changes and modifications as are obvious to one of ordinary skill in the
art.
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